County, City pass ordinances tightening coronavirus safety regulations

In back-to-back virtual meetings today both Charlottesville and Albemarle County moved to take emergency actions in opposition to current statewide coronavirus safety regulations. The Board of Supervisors, which met today at 3pm, voted unanimously to pass the new ordinances. City Council, during a 4pm meeting, also voted unanimously to pass the same ordinances. The ordinances go into effect on August 1 and expire on September 29 unless amended.

The City’s specific ordinance requirements and penalties can be reviewed here. The County's detailed ordinance is here.

From the Daily Progrees: "When asked if localities need permission from the governor to move back [to Phase 2] in regulations, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s spokesman Grant Neely said, “Most city and county charters give their governing bodies a mechanism to take emergency action at the local level, but I’m not aware that any has done so.”

The move comes amid concerns about the local spread of the virus, and the retun of UVA …